International Journal of Agriculture Innovations and Research Volume 1, Issue 6, ISSN (Online) 2319-1473

Supplementation of Exogenous Enzyme to Laying Hens Diets Containing Heat Treated Sheep Manure: Effects on Performance and Egg Quality Onu, P. N. Department of Animal Science, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Email: [email protected] Abstract - A seventy-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the performance and egg quality of laying hen fed heat treated sheep manure (HSM) based diets supplemented with Roxazyme G enzyme. Seven experimental layer diets were formulated with oven-dried HSM such that diets 2, 4 and 6 contained 5%, 10% and 15% HSM without enzyme supplementation respectively. Diets 3, 5 and 7 contained 5%, 10% and 15% HSM supplemented with 100mg Roxazyme enzyme per kilogram weight of feed respectively. Diet 1 (control) contained 0% sheep manure. Two hundred and fifty-two (252) 35 weeks old (Black Nera Strain) birds were divided into seven groups of thirty-six birds each and randomly assigned to the seven dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated three times with twelve birds/replicate. Results showed that there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in weight gain, feed conversion ratio and egg quality characteristics of laying hens fed HSM diets (with or without enzyme) but for percentage yolk and egg yolk colour where significant (P0.05) while those with unidentical superscripts differ significantly (P